Oscillating fan.



A. RUBIN! OSGILLATING PAN. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' A, RUBIN.

OSGILLATING FAN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1, 1909. 952 458 Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UTTTD STATES FATFNT @FFlfClit ADOIiPI-I` RUBIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOI-IN B. GURY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OSCILLATING FAN.

aaaacs.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLPn RUBIN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Oscillating Fans, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to oscillatory fans and more particularly tooscillating devices for rotary electric fans.

It has for its principal objects to secure simplicity of constructionand ease of operation, to provide for the use of an oscillating` devicewithout materially decreasing the full effect of the blast from the fan,to facilitate the attachment of the device to fans of any ordinaryconstruction, and to attain certain other advantages hereinafter morefully appearing.

The invention consists in the parts and in the arraiigements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, andwherein like symbols refer' to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1is a front elevation of an electric fan equipped with an oscillatingdevice embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing a detachable support for thefan-shifting vane, with said vane removed to expose the shock-actuatedescapement device; Fig. 4f is a view partly in elevation and partly insection on or about the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3, of the support with thefan-shifting vane in place; Fig. 5

is a detail perspective view of the weighted shifting lever for theescapement device; Fig. G is a detail perspective view of thereciprocatory latch member of the escapement device; Fig. V7 is a topedge view of the fanshifting vane and support therefor; Fig. S is a planview of a stop-plate forming part of the reversing means for theescapement device; and, Fig. 9 is a view partly in elevation and partlyin section showing a portion of a swiveled carrier for the fan motorcasing and also showing the cooperative relation of the reversing stops.

In the drawings an ordinary electric fan is illustrated. It comprises arotary fan of Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led March 1, 1909.

' th ere from.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 480,568.

angularly set blades 1 which are mounted on the end portion of a shaft2. This shaft is the armature shaft of an ordinary electric motor (notshown in detail) which is mounted in a suitable casing or housing 3. Themotor casing 3 is preferably hingedly supported or swiveled in a yoke tso that the fan may be tilted to different angles for obvious reasons.This yoke 4; is swiveled on a stand or base 5. Preferably, the yoke isprovided with a depending stud G which is journaled in a central openingin the top of the stand or base 5. In some cases, a series of balls 7 orother suitable antifriction bearings may be provided for the yoke, andthe parts may be secured by a nut and washer S, 9 respectively.

Fixedly mounted on the stand or base is a circular plate or disk 10.This plate or disk is provided with two' oppositely disposed arcuat-eslots 11 in which arc slidably fitted studs or stops 12. Preferably,these studs are provided with collars or heads 13 on their lower endsand their upper portions are slightly reduced and screw-threaded toreceive cylindrical sleeves or locking nuts 14 which are internallyscrew-threaded to engage the threads of the studs. These locking members14C are preferably provided with knurled knob portions 15 to facilitatethe tightening of the studs in their adjusted positions on the disk l0,or said members may be provided with portions adapted to coperate with asuitable wrench.

On the swiveled yoke 4c is a lateral pro jection or stud 16 which isarranged to contact with said stops or studs 12 which limit the movementof the yoke. Obviously, therefore, by changing the positions of thestops 12 the angle of movement of the yoke and the effective range ofthe fan may be varied.

The means for shifting or oscillating the fan comprises anintermittently movable vane or resisting element 17 which is rotatablymounted closely in front of the fan blades so as to receive the force ofthe blast Preferably, the vane 17 is mounted on a support 18 which maybe conveniently secured to the usual wire guard frame surrounding thefan blades. The sup 'of the supporting f"'am'e 18.

port illustrated in the drawings comprises a circular frame havingperipheral lugs 1S) which are grooved on their back faces so as to fitupon the central circular member 20 of the Wire guard frame 21. Thisguard frame is provided with bent arms 22 which are secured by screws 23to the motor casing 3.

The circular supporting frame 18 is provided with a central hub portion24 which is connected thereto by radial members 25. In the center of theportion 211 is a screwthreaded hole 2G in which is secured a shoulderedstud 27 upon which the vane 17 is pivo'ted. Preferably, the vanecomprises a blade which is secured to or integral with a stem or shankportion 28 which is perforated for the passage of the pivot studtherethrough. The vane is provided with a counter-balancing, weightedmember 29 which may be screwed or otherwise secured to the stem or shank28. This weighted member is arranged so as to just counterbalance theweight of the blade 17, and said blade 17 is set at a slight angle sothat the blast will cause the vane to rotate in one direction when it isnot held or locked, and yet offer suflicient resistance when locked tocause the fan to turn with its swiveled snpporting yoke 11 unt-ilarrested when the projection or stud 1G contacts with a stop 12.

Preferably, the journal for the vane 17 is provided in the thickenedweighted member 29 and the hole is recessed or counterbored to receivean antifriction ball bearing washer 30 which is loosely fitted thereinso as to coperate with the bottom of said rcces's and the flanged headportion of the fpivo't stud.

The shifting device or vane 17 is intermittently arrested or lockedagainst rotation by a horizontal, reciprocatory latch member 31 havingangular end extensions 32, 33, which are slidabl'y fitted in slots 311on opposite sides of the cential portion 2-1 Projecting rearwardly fromthe middle of the latch member 31 is a stud or pin 35 which loosely fitsin an elongated opening or slot 36 in a weighted lever 37. This lever ispivoted at its lower end on a stud 38 which is secured tothe lowerportion of the circular frame 18. Preferably, the upper end portion ofthe lever 37 is bent forwardly and upwardly as at 39 so as to bearagainst the front face of the upper portion of said circular frame 18 inorder to guide the upper end of the lever when it is rocked. This lever37 is provided with two oppositely disposed lateral wings or extensions40 which afford an extended bearing for the back face of the latchmember 31. The weight 41 which is secured to the rear face of the leverat the upper portion thereof projects beyond either side of said lever.

The weight is widest at` its upper portion and its top side ispreferably arcuate while its sides are undercut or tapered. By thisarrangement of weighted lever, the lever may be releasaloly held toeither side of a vertical center line. That is, when the lever is movedjust beyond the vertical position, the weight will quickly throw andhold the lever to that side. By limiting the inclined position of thelever to a slight distance either side of the vertical, the weight maybe overcome by a shock or jar, whereby the lever may be thrown over tothe opposite side in a manner hereinafter more fully set forth. j

In practice, the slots 3e and the projections 32, 33 on the latch member31 are so proportioned that, when the lever is moved to either side of avertical center line the latch projection on that side will extend ashort distance beyond the edge of the hub portion 24 of the supporting'frame, while the opposite latch projection is retracted entirely withinits slot whose inner end wall forms a stop therefor.

Mounted on the shank 28 of the fanshifting vane is a stop member L12which is curved and arranged to travel ina circular direction slightlybeyond the periphery of the hub portion 24 of the supporting frame 18.The edge of this stop is adapted to contact with the respective latchportions 32, when projected into its path and thereby arrest and holdthe vane from rotation on its pivot stud. Preferably, the vane-stoppingdevices are so arranged that the vane is arrested at each halfrevolution thereof so that its blade will be brouglit. to rest atopposite sides of the fan on a horizontal line.

In operation, assuming that the fan blades are in Imotion and the vaneis at rest, for eXample,as in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The airblast directed against the vane will cause the swiveled fan to turn onits base in a direction backward from said vane on that side. The fanwill turn with considerable momentlnn due to the resistance offered bythe vane blade to the blast from the rapidly revolving fan blades untilthe stop 16 comes violently in contact with the stop member 14,whereupon the shock will cause the weighted lever 37 to throw over tothe opposite side of the vertical center line and lthereby retract theprojecting latch portion 33 and project the opposite 'portion 32. Whenthe latch member 33 is withdrawn from contact with the vane stop member112, the vane will be rotated on its pivot stud 27 due to theinclination of the blade to the direction of the blast thereagainst.During this rotation of the vane the fan stands momentarily in itsshifted position until the vane is arrested at the opposite side of thefan bythe projecting latch llO member 32. Vhen the vane comes to rest inthis position, the fan will be shifted toward the opposite side untilthe stop 16 comes in contact with the stop member 14 on that side,whereupon, the position of the weighted shifting lever 3T is reversed,thereby retracting the latch portion 32 and projecting the oppositeportion 33. In this manner, the fan is intermittently shifted oroscillated on its stand or base. So, too, the fan may be tilted tovarious angles in its supporting yoke and yet the oscillating mechanismwill still be effective.

To insure the actuation of the latch or escapement device, it ispreferable to bevel the ends of the latch member as at 43 substantiallyas shown, so that, when the weighted lever 37 is thrown, by the impactof the stud 1G against a stop member 111, far enough to withdraw theprojecting upper flat face portion of the latch member from contact withthe end of the curved eX- tension of the stop 42 on the vane, said endwill ride over the beveled end of the latch member. The lever 3T willthereby be forced past the vertical center line and said curved stopextension will hold the parts from reacting` before they are moved toeffective position.

Obviously, instead of having the resisting element or vane rotateintermittently in one direction, the device may be modified so that saidresisting` element will oscillate to and fro intermittently on itspivot. The device admits of further modification without departing frommy invention, and, therefore, 1 do not wish to be limited to thespecific construction and arrangement shown.

That I claim is:

1. An oscillatory fan comprising a. support, a fan vertically swiveledon said support, said fan comprising a transverselyjournaled rotary fanwheel, a rotatable resisting element mounted adjacent to said fan wheelin the path of the blast therefrom, said resisting element comprising avane which is journaled centrally of said fan wheel and whose blade isset at a slight angle to the direction of the blast, whereby the normaltendency of said vane is to rotate under the force of the blast whenfree, a device for arresting and holding said vane with its bladealternately at opposite sides of the pivot of said fan, whereby said fanis caused to turn on its support alternately in opposite directions,stops arranged to limit the movement of said fan on its support, andmeans for automatically disengaging said arresting and holding devicefrom said vane when the fan reaches the limit of its movement on itssupport in either direction.

2. An oscillatory fan comprising a support, a fan swiveled thereon,stops for limiting the movement of said fan on its support, anintermittently movable resisting element rotatably mounted on said fanin the path of the blast therefrom, a shockactuated device mounted onsaid fan and adapted to arrest and hold said rotatable resisting elementalternately at opposite sides of the pivot of said fan, whereby said fanis caused to turn on its support alternately in opposite directions, andsaid arresting and holding device being arranged to be actuated by theimpact when the fan is arrested at the limit of its movement in eitherdirection.

3. An oscillatory fan comprising a support, a fan swiveled thereon,stops arranged to limit the movement of said fan on its support, anintermittently movable resisting element rotatably mounted on a supportwhich is fixed with respect to said fan in the path of the blasttherefrom, a reciprocatory latch member arranged to arrest and hold saidrotatable resisting element alternately at opposite sides of the pivotof said fan, whereby said fan is caused to turn on its supportalternately in opposite directions, and means for actuating said latchmember when the fan has reached the limit of its movement on its supportin either dircction.

1. An oscillatory fan comprising a support, a fan swiveled thereon,adjustable stops for limiting and varying the angle of movement of saidfan on its support, an intermittently movable resisting elementrotatably mounted on said fan in the path of the blast therefrom, adevice for arresting and holding said rotatable resisting elementalternately at opposite sides of the pivot of said fan, whereby said fanis caused to turn on its supports alternately in opposite directions,and means for actuating said arresting and holding device by the impactwhen the fan is arrested at the limit of its movement on its support ineither direction.

5. An oscillatory fan comprising a support, a fan swiveled verticallythereon, said fan having a transversely journaled fan wheel, anintermittently movable resisting element rotatably mounted adjacent tosaid fan wheel in the path of the bla st therefrom, said resistingelement comprising a support fixed centrally with respect to said fan, avane revolubly mounted on said support and having its blade inclinedslightly to the direction of the blast, whereby the normal tendency ofsaid vane is to revolve on its pivot in one direction, a horizontallymovable latch member arranged to arrest and hold said revoluble vanealternately on opposite sides of the pivot of said fan, whereby said fanis caused to turn on its support alternately in opposite directions, anda weighted oscillatory lever operatively c011- to this specification inthe presence of two necteol to said horizontally movable latch memberand arranged to be actuated to move said latch member by the impact whenSaid fan is arrested at the limit of its moie ment on its support ineither direction.

In Witness whereof I have signed my name subscribing Witnesses this 27th clay of February7 1909.

ADOLPH RUBN. lVitnesses G. A. PENNINGTON, W'M. P. CARR.

